Effectiveness of Pregnancy Exercise in Reducing Low Back Pain Among Third-Trimester Pregnant Women at Dulupi Community Health Center

Abstract

Lumbar musculoskeletal distress represents a highly prevalent clinical challenge during the third trimester of pregnancy, driven by deep maternal physiological and biomechanical adaptations. While structured prenatal conditioning is widely recommended to stabilize musculoskeletal health, empirical evaluations within localized primary care settings remain limited. This study evaluated the relationship connecting the frequency of pregnancy exercise with self-reported low back pain intensity among third-trimester expectant mothers managed at the Dulupi Community Health Center. An analytical observational design utilizing a cross-sectional approach was deployed to monitor a cohort of 30 pregnant women selected via a total sampling technique. Individual activity logs and physical pain scores were captured through structured questionnaires and matching observation sheets, followed by parametric inferential modeling via the Pearson correlation test. Demographic tracking showed that a dominant portion of respondents were aged 20–35 years (73.3%) and had completed senior high school (50.0%). Univariate metrics revealed that 40.0% of the sample had never taken part in prenatal exercise sessions, while 66.7% presented with mild lower back discomfort. The Pearson correlation analysis exposed a statistically significant, inverse linear relationship connecting exercise frequencies with gestational low back pain scores (; ). These findings demonstrate that more frequent participation in structured pregnancy exercise tracks is predictably associated with lower low back pain intensity in late-stage pregnant cohorts, highlighting its value within routine antenatal care.